On Friday, January 1, 2016, the Israeli city of Tel Aviv was rocked by terror as Nasha’at Melhem, a 31 year old Israeli citizen of Palestinian origin, embarked on a shooting spree along the bustling and popular Dizengoff Street. The…
Israel
Israel’s battle for sovereignty
When it comes to the tiny State of Israel, there is no shortage of controversial news topics. The newest debate concerns the Government Transparency Bill, which would necessitate Non-Governmental Organizations that receive most of their financial backing from “foreign political…
Israel: a values discourse
“The Shalom Hartman Institute is a pluralistic center of research and education deepening and elevating the quality of Jewish life in Israel and around the world. Through our work, we are redefining the conversation about Judaism in modernity, religious pluralism,…
Yiscah Smith: activist, leader, hero
We are a species that categorizes. Categories permeate every facet of our lives, as categorization is a natural process for us to organize the world around us. Essentially, humans naturally dissect one another into compartments, or identifiers. Consider how others…
How Hadas Libman keeps it on par
Hadas Libman is the latest diamond in the rough in Jewish Athletes. She hails from Israel and sacrificed time away from her family to live the dream of becoming a professional women’s golfer. She won her first Israeli Open when…
Israel’s secret humanitarian battle
On Feb. 16, 2013 Israeli ambulances brought wounded Syrians into an emergency room in Ziv Medical Center. In the two-and-a-half years since, more than 2,000 wounded Syrians have been admitted into a number of different Israeli hospitals. Since the beginning…
Remembering Yitzhak Rabin through art and music
Exploring the spectrum of Israeli music, from Aviv Geffen to HaDag Nahash, and art exhibits that commemorate Rabin and honor his contribution to the State of Israel. It was the day that democracy in Israel was murdered. Just over 20…
Unity by music, division by BDS
For many musicians, “Good evening, Tel Aviv!” is a brave political statement. Just to perform in Israel, singers and renowned musicians from all around the world are forced by opinionated fans to take a political position on the highly nuanced…
Our democratic fight
As a student who grew up in a democratic and liberal environment, I was constantly told to be proud of myself and to stand up for who I am and what I believe in. Earlier this week, the student government…
My night at the Friends of the IDF Gala
As I entered the glamorous Beverly Hilton Hotel last Thursday, November 5, for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces Gala, I felt a strong sense of community. Surrounding me were philanthropists, professionals, actors, and of course, American and Israeli…